Even better would be if someone could explain what I would be looking for as far as data sheet specs go so I can learn how to pick one myself in the future. I have a basic knowledge of electronics but I get lost when I read about forward voltage vs reverse voltage, leaked current vs rectified, recovery time, etc and how it would all relate to this and future projects I am working on.

First you think through what the various properties are. Sometimes it helps to write it out on paper (or whatever), especially when it's a new field for you or a complex problem, so let's do that:

• Forward voltage drop: The voltage loss across the diode when it's conducting. Varies with current. The reason people like Schottky diodes is that this type has low forward voltage drops. An "ideal" diode would have zero forward voltage drop.
• Reverse voltage: the maximum voltage you can apply to the diode in reverse polarity before it lets out the magic smoke. 
• Leakage current: when a diode is reverse biased, some current leaks through anyway. The smaller, the better.
• Rectified current: how much current the diode can pass comfortably before the manufacturer is no longer prepared to guarantee the magic smoke will stay in the part.
• Recovery time: how fast the transition from reverse to forward biased can be.

Then you think about what's important in your application. For power-ORing diodes, recovery time is usually totally insignificant. Reverse current is also usually not very important. Reverse voltage needs to be above the value of the highest power supply in the system (i.e., if you're ORing 12V and 5V, all the diodes better be rated 12V or higher!). You also need a bit of headroom; it's never good to run parts at 100% of their rating if it can be avoided. Your rectified current, as you've identified, should be 500mA minimum. (I might choose the next size up, 1A, Just In Case&#;. Or I might not, if I'm size-constrained on the layout or it's a non-critical part.) And then you can just pick the part with the lowest forward voltage drop that meets your other criteria of price, package size, availability, &c.

(Also consider what else you could use this part for; often it is better to buy two identical parts, even if they're individually a bit more expensive or somewhat overspecified, than managing two separate part inventories for different parts in different circuits. BOM line item reduction makes everyone happy!)

I adore manufacturer catalogs that list all their parts and relevant specs, because it makes this game a lot easier. NXP has a great MOSFET and diode catalog,

Sometimes if I need something a little more exotic, availability will be more limited. (That is not the case with bog-standard diodes.) In that case I usually start with the distributors' sites and see what they've got first, rather than what's in the catalog and might or might not be actually purchasable.

First you think through what the various properties are. Sometimes it helps to write it out on paper (or whatever), especially when it's a new field for you or a complex problem, so let's do that:Then you think about what's important in your application. For power-ORing diodes, recovery time is usually totally insignificant. Reverse current is also usually not very important. Reverse voltage needs to be above the value of the highest power supply in the system (i.e., if you're ORing 12V and 5V, all the diodes better be rated 12V or higher!). You also need a bit of headroom; it's never good to run parts at 100% of their rating if it can be avoided. Your rectified current, as you've identified, should be 500mA minimum. (I might choose the next size up, 1A, Just In Case&#;. Or I might not, if I'm size-constrained on the layout or it's a non-critical part.) And then you can just pick the part with the lowest forward voltage drop that meets your other criteria of price, package size, availability, &c.(Also consider what else you could use this part for; often it is better to buy two identical parts, even if they're individually a bit more expensive or somewhat overspecified, than managing two separate part inventories for different parts in different circuits. BOM line item reduction makes everyone happy!)I adore manufacturer catalogs that list all their parts and relevant specs, because it makes this game a lot easier. NXP has a great MOSFET and diode catalog, available here , and guess what? I pick NXP diodes a lot more often than other manufacturers'. (HINT FOR MANUFACTURERS: make my life easier and I'll buy your parts!) If you load that up and scroll to around page 36 (PDF page 20 because they paginated it bizarrely), you'll see a whole bunch of candidate parts. Many would probably work for your application. PMEGEJ looks like a decent starting point, but you may prefer to optimize for other things (smaller, higher power, better available, etc.) I usually pick a couple of favorites that look good, then search DigiKey, Mouser, or Octopart and see how available and expensive each is, and then just pick one.Sometimes if I need something a little more exotic, availability will be more limited. (That is not the case with bog-standard diodes.) In that case I usually start with the distributors' sites and see what they've got first, rather than what's in the catalog and might or might not be actually purchasable.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Hornby Electronic.

Diodes Questions

Diodes are used in electronic devices like television, micro-ovens, refrigerators, computers, mobiles, and storage devices. Diodes have high resistance on one end and low resistance on the other end. An ideal diode is a device with zero resistance in one direction and infinite resistance in the reverse direction.

Semiconductor diodes are the most common type of diodes used. Silicon and germanium are the semiconductor materials used in diode construction. Some of the types of diodes are:

1. Photodiode
2. PN junction diode
3. Light Emitting Diode
4. Zener diode
5. Laser diode
6. Schottky diode
7. Avalanche diode

Read more: Diodes

A photo-diode can pick out even a small amount of current flow resulting from the light.

The P-N junction diodes are used in the process of rectification. They are also known as rectifier diodes. These diodes are made up of semiconductor material. The P-N junction diodes are of two types: P-type and N-type.

A light-emitting diode, referred to as LED, is a semiconductor device that emits light when electricity flows through it. Electrons recombine with electron holes in the device to release photons. The colour of the light emitted by the diode is found by the energy required for electrons to cross the semiconductor&#;s bandgap.

A Zener diode is a heavily doped semiconductor device and is designed to function in the reverse direction.

Laser diodes are also known as injection laser diodes. A laser diode is a semiconductor device almost similar to a light-emitting diode (LED). It is a diode that is pumped directly with an electrical current that can create lasing conditions at the diode&#;s junction. Laser diodes are also known as injection laser diodes. Laser diodes are also known as injection laser diodes.

Schottky diodes have a lower forward voltage than other silicon PN junction diodes. Schottky diodes are highly used in rectifier applications.

Avalanche diodes belong to a reverse bias type and operate using the avalanche effect. Avalanche diodes exhibit high levels of sensitivity and hence are used for photodetection.

Important Diodes Questions with Answers

1. Diodes have _____ terminals

1. 4
2. 3
3. 2
4. 1

Answer: c) 2

Explanation: Diodes are two-terminal devices that conduct electricity in one direction.

2. The positive end of a diode is known as the _____

1. Cathode
2. Anode
3. Ideal end
4. Forward end

Answer: b) Anode

Explanation: The positive end of a diode is known as the anode and the negative end as the cathode.

3. State true or false: Diodes transform AC into DC.

1. TRUE
2. FALSE

Answer: TRUE

Explanation: Diodes transform AC into DC since diodes pass the positive part of the wave and block the negative part of the AC signal, or if diodes are reversed, they pass only the negative part and block the positive part.

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4. A reverse-biased diode will act as an _____

1. Closed switch
2. Open switch
3. Both open and closed switch
4. None of the options

Answer: b) open switch

5. Which is the ideal example of the bilateral device

1. Diode
2. Transistor
3. Resistor
4. Silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)

Answer: c) Resistor

Explanation: Among all the options mentioned, the resistor is a bilateral device since it allows current flow in both directions.

6. Red colour light is generated by which of the following diodes

1. Light-emitting diode
2. Avalanche diode
3. Schottky diode
4. Zener diode

Answer: a) Light-emitting diode.

Explanation: Red light is produced by the Light-emitting diode (LED).

7. P-N junction diode allows the current to flow in the &#;&#;&#;&#;

1. Reverse direction
2. Forward direction
3. In both forward and reverse directions
4. None of the options

Answer: b) Forward direction

Explanation: P-N junction diode allows the current to flow forward direction and blocks the current in the reverse direction.

8. When the diode is zero-biased, what would be the voltage potential across the diode?

1. -1
2. 1
3. 0
4. 2

Answer: c) 0

Explanation: The voltage potential across the diode will be zero in a zero-biased diode.

9. What are the types of breakdowns for a Zener Diode?

Types of breakdowns for a Zener Diode are:

• Avalanche Breakdown
• Zener Breakdown

10. In Zener diodes, Avalanche breakdown occurs with Zener voltage (Vz) greater than_____.

1. 0V
2. 2V
3. 4V
4. 6V

Answer: d) 6V

Explanation: In Zener diodes, Avalanche breakdown occurs with Zener voltage (Vz) greater than 6V.

Practice Questions

1. Define a diode.
2. List the types of the diode.
3. What is a laser diode?
4. Explain VI characteristics of PN junction diode.
5. List the applications of the diode.

Watch the video to understand the important questions asked in JEE Mains on the topic of semiconductors and electronic devices.

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